How to reconcile the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) against exposing the awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) with his action, which was the exposure of his thigh (peace and blessings be upon him)?

The questioner : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it, saying: , and it is established that he exposed it only; so how...?

The Shaykh : We apply the previous rule; apply the previous rule. This question is similar to your previous question as well. This is a statement that contradicted his action.

The questioner : Do you mean it is possible that his action was before this prohibition?

The Shaykh : It is possible to say there are three cases we mentioned earlier: it is possible that this was before the prohibition of exposing the thigh, it is possible that this was a special circumstance for him, or it is possible that it was without his intention. And in some incidents, this last possibility is very strong; because his thigh was exposed when he entered and attacked Khaybar with his companions (peace and blessings be upon him). He was riding his horse, so his lower garment slipped off his thigh. The truth is that there is some precision here from a hadith perspective. The wording in "Sahih Muslim" is: "his lower garment slipped off his thigh." The wording in al-Bukhari is: "he pulled up his lower garment." The wording in "Sahih Muslim" is: "his lower garment slipped off." So there is a very big difference between the two meanings. "His lower garment slipped off" was without his intention, and this is natural for one who is pursuing specific targets in the Battle of Khaybar. As for "he pulled up," it means with his intention. And it is possible that this is interpreted as him doing it to cool off, as one of us does, for example, like this. And as he did in the story of the well when he lowered his legs and some of his thighs were exposed. When Abu Bakr entered and sat to his right, then 'Umar entered and sat to his left, then 'Uthman ibn 'Affan asked permission, saying: . So when he entered, he gathered his clothes. And 'Aishah, the wise and perceptive one, was observing the matter, so she said to the Messenger later: Abu Bakr—your father—entered, and you did not change your position. 'Umar entered likewise. When Abu Bakr entered, you gathered your clothes to yourself. He said: . So it is possible that the exposure that occurred from him here for cooling off is what also occurred in the Battle of Khaybar.
In any case, the rule; the issue of "the statement takes precedence over the action" is truly a very important rule that is applied to—not dozens—hundreds of issues. And there is no way to correct Islamic jurisprudence except with this rule: "the statement takes precedence over the action." And of course, this is in cases of conflict and contradiction.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Now allow me, I say: the turn, leave the turn for someone else.
Please proceed.